Garden sprinkler control system



Sept. 4, 1956 1. J. PREUS 2,761,733

- GARDEN SPRINKLER CONTROL. SYSTEM Filed Dec. 28, 1953 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 4, 1956 Filed Dec. 28, 1953 s R w w m e w. 8 w J, 1 M Q s & W illl Ill x v 8? mm k M W Q mm v. a V. 1 B 1 NH Ill 2 9 mm B an EN l 0 mm. "am .m N 6N mm m & HWQ4ON MJJOVCJ4JHM \\\WMI Pin. WN EN 0 WVl IAEZI/l/l/Jff/ 0 y g mm W United States Patent f GARDEN SPRINKLER CONTROL SYSTEM Irving J. Preus, Bergenfield, N. I.

. Application December 28, 1953, Serial No. 400,545 7 5 Claims. (Cl. 299-58) This invention relates to garden sprinklers, and more particularly to a garden water sprinkler having a valve adjacent thereto which is operatively connected to a remotely positioned control means therefor.

The invention in one aspect thereof includes a control valve adjacent a garden sprinkler element, which valve is remotely controllable whereby-an operator of the system can momentarily stop the flow of water to the sprinkler element and can shift the position thereof without getting wet and without having to walk back to the main faucet. To the latter there is normally connected a flexible garden hose which supplies such sprinkler element. Such lawn sprinkler element thus is adapted for connection to a suitable water supply under pressure, said element having spray orifices therein and being constructed and arranged to create the desired water dispersion at a selected dispersion radius, the water being directed upwardly and outwardly of the sprinkler element. Such control valve is of the gate variety having a movable gate (or valve) element which can be shifted within the body of the valve under the influence of a threaded stud which is held against axial movement but which is angularly shiftable. The threaded stud engages a complementary threaded recess in the gate valve element whereby the latter is shiftable in a direction transverse to the flow of water through the valve body. A flexible control shaft closely embraced by a flexible hollow cable is connected to the aforementioned threaded stud via gland means which, on the turning of the control shaft, raises or lowers said gate element and at the same time prevents leakage past such threaded stud and its interconnection to the control shaft. At the remote extremity of the flexible shaft and hollow cable there is secured a suitable manually operable device comprising a knurled handle which is connected to the flexible hollow cable and which comprises a journal for the shaft of a handwheel which is inserted therein and which engages a suitable interconnection with the flexible shaft thereby to hold such flexible shaft against axial movement with respect to the knurled handle. The aforementioned interconnection between the threaded stud and the inner end of the flexible control shaft is constructed and arranged also to provent axial movement of such flexible control shaft at that point. By so constructing and arranging the opposite extremities of the flexible control shaft to hold same against axial movement, it is possible to provide an efficient remote control for the gate valve element .via said handwheel.

One of the objects of the present invention thus is to 7 specification and illustrate, by way of example, preferred element influence of a gate valve stud 26, having a threaded portion 26a which engages a complementary threadedrearrangements of apparatus for carrying out the invention. The invention consists in such novel combinations employed which'may be of conventional design, for example, toroidal in conformation and hollow, having perforations, as at 10a, to form the water spray. The

sprinkler Illa is connected to a suitable source of water under pressure by means of a flexible hose 11 of rubber or plastic which, in a conventional way, is connected to a primary faucet 1-2, which is controlled by a handwheel 13.

In order to be able to shift the position of the sprinkler it in the garden or upon the lawn without the necessity for shutting off the valve 12 and without the danger of being wet by the spray from the sprinkler, a remotely controlled valve 14 is connected into the system at the sprinkler and preferably is interposed between the hose 11 and the sprinkler element 10.

The valve 14 is of the gate variety, as is well shown in Fig. 2. Such valve 14 is provided with a shiftable gate valve element 15 which. is movable transversely relative to the path of flow of the water therethrough. The gate valve 14 may be opened and closed from a remote position by means of a handle element 16 having two subelements, including a handwheel 17 and a tubular handle 18, which may have a knurled outer surface. In order to assist in gaining a grip upon the knurled handle 18, there may be rigidily secured thereto a pair of protruding diametrically opposed handle rods 19 and 20.

The operative interconnection between the valve 14 and the handle 16 will now be described. This interconnection includes a flexible control shaft 21 which is closely embraced by a flexible hollow tubular cable 22. The latter embraces the former sufficiently closely to prevent any buckling of the latter but with suflicient clearance to enable easy angular movement of one relative to the other. The interconnection 21, 22 is in length not less than the radius of the aforementioned water dispersion.

The gate valve element 15 is preferably slidably tapered and is shiftable in the aforementioned transverse path within a groove 23 formed'in the inner surface of a valve chamber 24 within body 25 of the valve. The gate valve 15 is moved within the valve body under the cess 15a formed in element 15.

Successful operation of the valve makes it important that stud 26 be held against axial movement but allowed 1 free rotational movement Within limits. This insuresisatisfactory cooperation with the flexible shaft 21, cable 22 and handle 16. Stud 26 is held againstaxial movement, by means of a collar 27 which is integral therewith. Such collar is held against axial movement between shoulder 25a of the valve body 25 and a threaded sleeve 28 which is coaxial with the. position, as shown in the embodiment shown,

stud 26 and which holds the latter in in Fig. 2,'without any appreciable axial movement.

The sleeve 28 is formed of two portions, namely, a primary portion 28afor engaging a threaded recess 25b formed in the valve body 25 and a secondaryportion 28]; having threads formed outwardly thereupon to provide a nipple for threaded engagement with the internally formed threads of'a cap 29. The latter is rigidly secured to the inner extremity of the flexible tubular-cable-- I Fatented Sept. 4, 1956 sleeve 28. Such packing is urged downwardly into the recess "containing same by means of an annular packing cap 32 which is urged downwardly, .as viewed in Fig. 2, by 'means of inner shoulders 33 formedwithin the cap 29.

Thus the stud 26 is held against axial movement and also the inner extremity of the flexible shaft 21 is 'held against axial movement with respect to su'chistud.

The outer extremity of the flexible shaft 21 is associated with a handwheel shaft 34 of the handwheel 17 in such a manner that such outer extremity is also held against axial movement with respect to the outer extremity of the flexible tubular cable 22. There'is secured to the outer extremity of such tubular cable a nipple device 35 having an outer threaded portion 36. This device is secured to such outer cable extremity with the aid of a threaded nut 37 which engages a threaded recess 38 in the'inner end of the'nipple device 35.

Secured to the outer extremity of the control shaft 21 and preferably integral therewith is a portion 21a of slightly larger diameter thereby forming a shoulder 39 which engages a complementary shoulder 35a formed in the nipple device 35. By holding shoulder 39 in close proximity to'the complementary shoulder 35a, it is seen that flexible shaft 21 (at its outer end) is held against axial movement with respect to the hollow or tubular cable 22. This is accomplished with the aid of the handwheel shaft 34 which, by means of a groove 40 and a screw 41, is held in a preselected axial position in the knurled handle 18 whereby the righthand extremity (Fig. 2) of the shaft portion 21a is engaged by a bottom 42 of a recess 4-3, the latter being formed to receive the rod portion 21a, together with a key thereof 21b.

In operation the knurled handle '18 is positioned at some point remote from the sprinkler, the cable 22 being preferably of a length not less than the range of the spray from the sprinkler 10, that is, not less than 'the'aforementioned radius of water dispersion. By means of the handwheel 17, torque is communicated from the hand of the operator to the shaftportion 21a which is held against axial movement relative to the tubular cable 22. Consequently the torque is communicated via the shaft 21 to the cap member 30 and thence to the stud 26 via the portion 26b. The outer extremity of tubular cable 22 is held relatively stationary, and thus prevented from twisting by the manual grip upon the handle 19. The cable 22, by its resistance to twisting all along its length, bypreventing the buckling of shaft 21, and also because of the prevention of relative axial movement of such elements 21a and 30, compels rotation of stud 26 (without axial movement) and thereby shifts the gate '15 to open or close same, depending upon the direction of motion of the handwheel 17.

There is thus provided a novel garden water sprinkler control valve wherein the sprinkler can be turned on and off from a distance about one-half of the diameter of the sprinkler water range thereby saving walking back and forth from the primary faucet when it is desired to reposition the sprinkler. Furthermore, the water volume can be controlled at the sprinkler end of the hose with a variety of settings easily adjustable by the handwheel 17.

While the invention has been described with respect to a. certain preferred example which has given satisfactory results, .it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a lawn sprinkler element constructed and arranged to rest upon a surface such as a lawn and from such position to spray water upwardly and outwardly therefrom, the outward spray extending to a substantial radius as measured from such surface, such radius defining the sprinkler .element water range, a control valve adjacent to and connected with said sprinkler, said control valve including: a gate valve element, a threaded gate valve stud for engaging a complementary threaded recess in such gate valve element, means for holding such threaded gate valve stud against axial movement whereby such gate valve element is shiftable in response to angular movement of such gate valve stud; means for remotely controlling the turning of said threaded gate valve stud including: a flexible control shaft, a tubular cable closely embracing such control shaft, means for connecting one extremity of saidcontrol shaft to said threaded gate valve stud and which is constructed and arranged for maintaining said connection between said control shaft and threaded stud and for holding the former against axial movement relative to the latter, said tubular cable being flexible transversely thereof but being resistant to stretching and shortening thereof and thus of substantially constant length; means for holding the remote extremity of said control shaft against axial movement with respect to said tubul'ar'cable; and a handwheel connected to such remote extremity of said control shaft, said control shaft and cable being in length not lessthan said radius.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a lawn sprinkler element constructed and arranged to rest upon a lawn surface and from such position to spray water upwardly and outwardly therefrom to a substantial distance as measured substantially horizontally, such distance comprising a sprinkler element water range; a control valve adjacent to and connected with said sprinkler, said control'valve including a gate valve element; a flexible hose connected to said valve; a threaded gate valve stud for engaging a complementary recess in such gate valve element; means for holding such threaded gate valve stud against axial movement whereby such gate valve element is shiftable in response to angular movement of such gate valve stud; means for remotely controlling the turning of said threaded gate valve stud including a flexible control shaft, a tubular cable closely embracing such control shaft, means for drivably connecting one extremity of said control shaft to said threaded gate valve stud including nipple means to which is secured one extremity of such tubular cable and which is constructed and arranged for maintaining said connection between said control shaft and threaded stud and for holding the former against axial movement relative to the latter; means for holding the remote extremity of said control shaft against axial movement with respect to said tubular cable, the latter cable being flexible transversely thereof but being resistant to stretching and shortening thereof and thus of substantially constant length; and a handwheel connected to such remote extremity of said control shaft, said control shaft and cable being in length at least equal to such distance.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a lawn sprinkler element constructed and arranged .to rest upon a lawn surface and from such position to spray water upwardly and outwardly therefrom to a substantial. distance as measured substantially horizontally, such distance comprising the sprinkler element water range; a flexible hose for conducting water to said lawn sprinkler element; a control valve for such water, said valve being connected to and adjacent said sprinkler, said control valve having a valve element therein and means for guiding the movement thereof in a path transverse to the movement of the fluid through the body of the valve, said control valve also having a threaded valve stud for engaging a complementary threaded recess formed in said valve element, means for holding said threaded valve stud against axial movement, said valve element being movable in response to angular shifting of the valve stud; and control means for said valve comprising a tubular cable having one extremity secured to the valve and having a flexible control shaft therein, said flexible control shaft being directly connected to said stud at the inner extremity of said shaft by means constructed and arranged for holding such inner extremity of the control shaft against axial movement with respect to said tubular cable, the latter cable being flexible transversely thereof but being resistant to stretching and shortening and thus being of substantially constant length; means for holding the outer extremity of said control shaft against axial movement with respect to said tubular cable; and a hand turnable element having a shaft connected to said outer extremity of said control shaft, said control shaft and cable being in length in excess of such water range.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a lawn sprinkler element constructed and arranged to spray water upwardly and outwardly therefrom to a substantial distance as measured substantially horizontally, such distance comprising the sprinkler element water range; a control valve adjacent to and connected with said sprinkler, said control valve having a gate valve element therein and means for guiding the movement thereof in a path transverse to the movement of the fluid through the body of the valve, said control valve also having a threaded gate valve stud for engaging a threaded recess formed in said gate valve element, means for holding said threaded gate valve stud against axial movement, said gate valve element being movable in response to angular shifting of the gate valve stud; and control means for said valve comprising a tubular cable having one extremity secured to the valve and having a flexible control shaft therein, said flexible control shaft being di-- rectly connected to said stud at the inner extremity of said shaft by means constructed and arranged for holding such inner extremity of the control shaft against axial movement with respect to' said tubular cable, the latter cable being flexible transversely thereof but being resistant to stretching and shortening and thus being of substantially constant length; means for holding the outer extremity of said control shaft against axial movement with respect to said tubular cable; and a hand turnable element connected to said outer extremity of said control shaft, said control shaft and cable being in length in excess of the aforementioned distance comprising such water range.

5. In a lawn sprinkler system, the combination comprising: a flexible hose; a sprinkler element adapted for resting upon a lawn and directing a spray upwardly and outwardly therefrom to a distance comprising the sprinkler element spray range; a control valve of the gate type for governing the flow of fluid through said hose and interposed between and connected to said hose and sprinkler element, said control valve having a gate valve element therein for controlling the flow of liquid there through; a threaded stud held against axial movement in the body of such control valve for engaging a threaded recess in said gate valve element thereby to move same in response to angular movement of said stud; means for controlling said valve element remotely with respect to such sprinkler element, including a flexible control shaft connected to said stud and a tubular cable embracing said shaft closely, one extremity of said tubular cable being secured to said valve, said tubular cable being flexible transversely thereof but being resistant to stretching and shortening and thus being of a substantially common length; a handle means secured to said shaft and cable at the outer extremity thereof and comprising a pair of handle elements, one of which is secured to said cable and the other to the extremity of said control shaft; and means for holding said shaft against axial movement with respect to said cable, said control shaft and cable being of substantially equal length which is greater than the aforementioned distance comprising the sprinkler element range, the length of said shaft and cable being less than the length of said hose whereby said valve element control means is located substantially closer to said sprinkler element then said primary faucet when said hose and cable are extended and an operator of the system can control said sprinkler element at a location outside of the sprinkler element spray range without traversing the greater distance to such primary faucet.

Cox May 12, 1925 Malin Jan. 8, 1952 

